Tractor transmission mechanism for motor-vehicles.



W. M. McEWEN. TRACTOR TRANSMISSION MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. I APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2, l9l7- ,290,266. I Patented Jan, 7, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

W. M. McEWEN. TRACTOR TRANSMISSION MECHANISM FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION-FILED FEB. 2.1917. 1,290,266. Patented Jan. 7,1919.

2 SHEET$-SHEET 2.

; Dave/22%) neonate.

wrttnnn tr. nenwnnr;

or onron'eo, trainers,

l l th.

V Toall wh om it may concern. I

Be it known that l, WiULLeRD CEWIENg a citizen of the United States of lh'merica,

and a resident'of Chicago, county of Coolr, and State of llllin'ols, have invent'edcertam" new and, useful Improvements in ,"llractor Transmission Mechanisms for Motor-Yehi-f cles, of which the following is aspec ficar;

r I cured to the-chass1s frame 1 by. means of tion. c r

"The main objects of this-invention'are to provide an improved form of auxiliary transmission mechanism for motor-driven vehicles whereby a. vehicle may be normally. constructed for lighter work, such as a pleasure car, and may be readily converted into a tractor; to provide improved means for conmeeting ;said auxiliary transmission mechanism in driving relation with themotor of. the vehicle; to provide improved means for controlling said auxiliary mechanism; and to provide an auxiliary transmission-mechanism of this kind which is simple and compact in construction and which, although it may be conveniently built into a vehicle at the time of its manufacture, is particularly constructed sons to be readily and with little hereinafter a pear.

trouble attached to and detached from an automobile normally designed-for use as a,

pleasure car. I

An illustrative embodiment of this'invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is aplan of a chassis showingthe improved form of tractor transmission as applied thereto. I i

' Fig. 2 is aside elevation of-the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan of the gearing by means ofwhich the tractor transmission is connected t'o' the motor: of the vehicle.

.l ig. 4 is an elevation of the same as viewed from the planeofthe line 49-4-01?" Fig.3.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional elevation taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3. 1:

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation of one of the driving wh'eels showing the tractor tread members as attached thereto.

In the construction shown in'the drawings, the tractor transmission is show-n applied to an automobile chassis normally designedifor the support of an ordinary pleasure car body.

The illustration'shows the chassis frame 1,

having the usual motor 2 mounted thereon and connected by a driving shaftB to the axle or wheel shaft 4 (Fig. 2) which is .E;peeificatiuii of Lctters ilt'atent. a pueationa a away 2,1917. Serial nojiaaiaa Patented Jan. t me.

journaled at the rear of the chassis frame 1 andconnected to rotate the driving wheels 5; The illustration also shows the forward the usual steering wheel 7. t

;wheels 56' connected so as to be operated by ft Thetractor transmission as herein shown comprises.jaljackshaft 8 iournaled on "the frame member 9 which is adapted to be senuts and bolts 1Q. The jackshaft is so lohere 13, so as to chains 14.

The frame member 9 has formed interbe connected by sprocket mediate the ends thereof abracket which provides bearings 16and 17 forthedriving 3 which, when this tractor transmis- 31011 is. apphed to the vehicle, is to be severed as at 18 so that the rear'section 19' thereof becomes an independent part of the main driving shaft. This rear sectionl is adapted to beconnected and disconnected with the forward section of the main driving shaft 3 by clutch me r'hanism, as will more fully Other bearlngs 20, adiacent'to the bracket 15, and bearings 21, at the ends of the frame member'Q, support the jackshaft 8 below the plane of the driving shaft 3 (Fig. 1).

The gearing connecting the jackshaft 8 .with themain. driving shaft 3 is herein shaft 8. clutch mechanism isprovided for connecting the maindriving shaft 3 either to theworm 22 or direct to the section 19.

. T his'clutch mechanism comprises a shiftable clutch member 2.4 slidably mounted on the'rear end of the forward section'of the driving shaft 3 and splined thereto as at. 25.-

Coacting clutch faces 26 and 27 are formed on the clutch member 24, which are adapted to respectively engage coacting clutch faces 28 and 29 formed on the gear 22 and a collar .30 secured to the forward end of the rear'section 19 of the main driving shaft.

The usual forked clutch shifting'member 31- is pivoted at 32 and connected by a rod or i other member 33 we lever 34 by means of the, rear section 19 thereof or with the jackis "accomplished.

of-the driving shaft and axle 4', it'is necessary' to provide auxiliary clutch mechanism. forjconnectmg and disconnectingthe gearwhich the shifting of the clutch member 24 In order to permit-the jackshaft 8 and connected partsto run' idle, when'the motor is driving direct through the rear section 13 23 with the jackshaft 8. This. includes a clutch member 35, similar to the clutch member 24, slidably mounted on and splined to gagement with a coacting clutch face 37 formed "on'the gear 23. A forked clutch shifting member 38-. is pivoted at 39 and is provided with a roller 40 at the upper end thereof which is received in a slot 41 formed in the clutch shifting rod 33. The slot 41 y is disposed at an angle as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 whereby the shifting of the clutch member 35 into and out of engagement with ,the gear 23 is slmultaneous and automatic with the shifting of the clutch member 24 into and out of 4 engagement with the Y worm 22.

The tractor'tread members 13 are each in the form of an annular plate having an outwardly disposed annular flange 4:2, on

' directly to the wheels 5, which by virtue of the reduction in speed between the worm 22 and gear 23 and the sprockets 8 and 12 will cause a very slow hutpowerful drive on said wheels.

When it is desired to operate the vehicle at one of its normal speeds, for light work Where it is desired to travel rapidly, as for instance, in traveling to and from the work, the lever 34 is'shifted so as to disengage the clutch members24'and 35 from the worm 22 and gear'23 respectively, and at the same time move the clutch member 2 L into engagement with the collar on the rear section 19 of themain driving shaft, whereupon the power of the motor is communicated direct to -'the rear axle 4 (Fig. 2) through the usual differential 47.

When' itis desired to use the vehicle as a pleasure car only, the tractor tread members 13 may be readily detached from the wheels 5 and the sprocket chains 14 removed.

Then, upon setting the clutch mechanism as explained in the next previous paragraph, the vehicle may be driven at the usual speeds .for which it is normally constructed.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been herein shown and 30 which suitable tread cleats 43 are arranged, des ribed, it will be understood that numeron which the'sproclset-il2 is formed.

and an inwardly disposed annularflange 44, These tread members are of such a size as to snugly [itover'the tire 45 of the wheel 5 and are secured thereto by means of U-bolts and nuts 46. i

':This tractor transmission may beincorporated into the vehicle as originally manufac'tured, in whlch case the design of some ,of the parts might be modified somewhat,

, or it may be in the nature of'an auxiliary constructionarranged to be attached to an automobile of any of the usual construc- 'tions. The latter is an important object of the inventlon. In such case, the owner of a pleasure-car, and more particularly one who. lives on a 'farm where there would be more. occasion for using the vehicle for tractor work, would be provided with the tractor-tread members 13.. the frame memher 9 and jackshaft 8, and the connections and gearing as shown. readily and conveniently attach to his car in the manner shown so that at a comparatively small expense and with little-trouble,

These he could the car can be converted into a tractor.

'In either case, the operation of the device is substantially the same, which is as folous details of the construction shown may be altered orv omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention as define by the following claims.

.I claim:

1. A transmission mechanism for motor vehicles, comprising a frame, driving wheels,

a wheel shaft journaled on said frame for driving said wheels, a main driving shaft,

mechanism providing a driving connection for said main driving shaft with said wheel shaft and with each of said wheels direct, and means included in said mechanism and shiftable for controlling the driving connection between said main driving shaft and either said wheel shaft or said wheels direct, as may be desired. I

2. A transmission mechanism for motor Vehicles, comprising a frame, driving wheels, :1. wheel shaft journaled on said frame for driving said wheels, a main driving shaft, an auxiliary shaft on said frame connected to rotate said wheels, mechanism providing a driving connection for said main driving shaft'with said wheel shaft and with said auxiliary shaft, and means included in said mechanism and shiftable for controlling the driving connection between said main driving shaft and either said .3 wheel shaft or said auxiliary shaft, as may be desired.

3. A- transmission mechanism for motor I vehicles, comprising a frame, driving wheels, a wheelshaft journaled on said frame for driving said wheels, a main driving shaft,

neoaaeo an auxiliary shaft on said frame connected to rotate said wheels, speed reducing gearing included in the connection between said auxiliary shaft andeach of said wheels,

mechanism providing .a driving connection,

. for said malndriving shaft with said wheel shaft and with'said auxiliary shaft, and

means included in said mechanism and shiftable for controlling the drivingconnection 5 a wheel shaft jonrnaled on said frame for driving said wheels, a main driviii shaft, a" jackshaft journaled on said frame adjacent to said driving wheels and snbstantiallyparallel with said wheel shaft, sprockets on the ends of said jackshaft and on each of said wheels,

sprocket chains connecting the sprockets on said jackshaft with the sprockets on said-t sections ofsaidmain driving shaft or he- Wheels respectively, mechanism providing'a driving connection of sa1d mam dr vma" shaft with said wheel shaft and' witheaid jackshaft, and means includedinsaid-mech-ssnected wlth' andsh ftahle'on said jackshaft v for rotatablyhonnectingand disconnecting anism and shiftableforcontrolling the driving connection betweensaid main driving; shaft and either said wheel'shaft or said jackshaft. if] a 1 j 5. A transmission mechanism for noter vehicles, comprising a frame, driving'wheels, a wheel shaft journaled on;Qsaid frarnei for driving said wheels, a main driving" shaft, a

jackshaft journaled on said'frame adjacent to said driving wheelsand substantially parallel with said wheel shaft; sprockets on the ends of said jackshaft and'on each of said wheels, sprocket. chains "connectingthe to sprockets on said ja'okshaft with the sprock ets on said wheels respectively, mechanism providing a driving connection of said main driving shaft with said wheel shaft and with said jackshaft, speed reducing gearinmin is cluded in the driving 1 connection between said main driving" shaft and said-jackshaft',.f and means included-in said mechanism and shiftahle for controlling the driving 'conn ec tion between said main driving-shaft and either said wheel shaft or said lackshaft.

6. A transmission for-motor vehicles, com prising a frame, 'drivin,q wheels, awhee1" shaft journaled on saidfraine for driving" said wheels. a longitndinallv disposed main or driving shaft consisting" of --two separated alined sections, the'rear section of which is connected in driving relation with saidwhe'el shaft.a a "transversely disposed iackshaftj monnted on'said frame and connected in to driving relation with each of said wheels,

nearing}; connecting" the forward section of said main driving shaft with said iaclrshaft,

and clutch mechanism rotatahl v connected to ond shif tie on said forward the main driving shaft forest ction of fishinn; a

it: i

section and the rear section of said main driving connection between said forward driving'shaft, or between the forward. seo- Inain d'riving shaft and said alined sections, the rear'section'of'which is connected in driving relation with said Wheel shaft, a transversely disposed; jackshaft mounted on said frame-and connected in driving relation-with each of Said wheels,

a worm loosely mounted on the forward sec-- .tion of said main' -driving. shaft and a gear loosely Vmounted on said -jackshaft meshing "with said worm, clutch mechanismrotatahly connected with and shiftable onthe forward section of said maindriving shaft for estaiolishing a driving-relation between the ram; said arena, section and said worm, and other clntchmechanism rotatably consaid ear with saidjackshaft.

'8. h transmission for motor vehicles, com I prising a frame, drivingwheel-s, a wheel shaft journaledj on said frame for driving said wheels,;a'longitudinally disposedmain driving shaft consisting ofitwo separated alined sections, therear section-of which 18 ..connected .in' driving] relation with said shaft mounted on said frame and connected in driving relationiwith each of said wheels,

a worm loosely mounted on the forward sec wheel shaft,-'a transversely disposed jaekwith said worm,clutch mechanismrotatablv connectedwithand shiftable on the forward section of said main driving shaft for estahlishingla driving relation between the sections ofsai'd main driving shaft or hetween said forward 'section and said worm, other clut'chimechanisrn rotatahly connect ed wi h and shiftahle on said jackshaft for rotatahl' v connecting and disconnecting said fgearwith said jaclrshaft, and clutch shifting-,meansadapted tofactnate said clutch mechanisms 'simultaneouslv for connecting and disconnecting said worm and gear with respectively; a a 9; lln atraetor transmission fora motor meinher, a jaclrshoft' rotatahl v mounted thereon, 'nieans connecting said frame l'tlfilllbtiitflfla fifttt chassis frame of the wt cl adaptedpto connect said jaehahaft said main driving; shaft and said jaclrshaft' .lllitl llllh Mid driven vehicle 'havino a flair of drivin said other gearing with said tractor tread members, other gearing for connecting said jackshaft with the main driving shaft of the vehicle, and clutchmechanism shiftable for. establishing and disestablishin'g driving connection between I and the main driving shaft \of the vehicle. 4

10. In a"tractor.transmission for a m0- tor-driven vehicle having a pair of driving Wheels and a main driving shaft,the combination of tractor tread members attachable to the driving wheels of the vehicle, a frame member, a jackshaft rotatably mounted thereon, means for connecting said frame member to the chassis frame of the vehicle forwardly of the rear axle, sprockets on said tractor tread members and on said ackshaft, sprocket chains connecting the sprockets on said jackshaft with the respective sprockets on sald tractor tread members, gearing for connecting said jackshaft with the mainfldriving shaft of the vehicle, and

WILLARD M. MCEWEN. 

